Helleborus plant named ‘HLR 170’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘HLR 170’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant habit; uniform flowering habit; long flowering period; single white to light green-colored flowers with red purple-colored central spots; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus orientalis hybrid.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HLR 170’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus orientalis hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HLR 170’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Helleborus cultivars with unique and attractive flower coloration and resistance to pests.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in November, 2002 of two unnamed proprietary seedling selections of Helleborus orientalis hybrid, not patented. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in February, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany since March, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HLR 170’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HLR 170’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching plant habit.     -   2. Uniform flowering habit.     -   3. Long flowering period.     -   4. Single white to light green-colored flowers with red         purple-colored central spots.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Compared to plants of the parent selections, plants of the new Helleborus flower more freely and more uniformly.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus orientalis hybrid ‘HGC Merlin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,705. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘HGC Merlin’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus have larger flowers than plants         of ‘HGC Merlin’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are white to light         green in color with red purple-colored central spots whereas         flowers of plants of ‘HGC Merlin’ are dark purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HLR 170’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘HLR 170’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Glandorf, Germany in 1.5-liter containers during the winter in a glass-covered greenhouse and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 3° C. to 18° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus orientalis hybrid ‘HLR 170’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling             selection of Helleborus orientalis hybrid, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling             selection of Helleborus orientalis hybrid, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two months at 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About six months at             4° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; white to brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright             and outwardly arching plant habit; shape, globular;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 34.2 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; palmately             compound with five leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 15.7 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 16.1 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 9.1 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Palmate; orbicular in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Elliptic to narrowly obovate; lowest leaflets             typically cleft.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Finely senate.         -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to             N137B to N137C; base tinged with close to 183A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; base tinged with close             to 177B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to             147A; venation, darker than between N137D and 147A. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 146A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 11.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B to 143C with spots,             close to 182B; base, close to 187B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate flowers; uniform             flowering habit; about five flowers per terminal cyme;             flowers facing slightly outwardly to nodding.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants             flower from winter to early spring in Germany.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 145B to 145C.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 24 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 17.8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.2 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.4 cm.         -   Petals.—Transformed into nectaries.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: About five in a single whorl. Length:             About 3.7 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to             broadly elliptic. Apex: Broadly acute. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 145D; central spots,             close to 187B; towards the base, close to 145A to 145B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 145D to 157A; towards the             base, close to 145B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             NN155B to NN155C; central spots, close to 187C to 187D;             towards the base, close to 145B; with development, color             becoming closer to 145A to 145B with central spots, close to             187A to 187B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155B             to NN155C; at the base, close to 145B.         -   Peduncles.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About             16.2 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Aspect: About 15° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B;             spots, close to 182B.         -   Pedicels.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About 5.2 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Aspect: About 20° from the peduncle             axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B to             144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 90.             Filament length: About 1.3 cm. Filament color: Close to             157B. Anther shape: Narrowly reniform. Anther length: About             4 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             About five. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 157D. Style length:             About 1.1 cm. Style color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close             to 144D. Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per             flower: About 13. Length: About 8 mm. Diameter, apex: Close             to 3 mm. Diameter, base: Close to 1 mm. Shape: Flattened             triangular. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Helleborus have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Helleborus. 

1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘HLR 170’ as illustrated and described. 